Moulding cores



Jan. 14, 1958 L. J. SIMS 2,819,511

MOULDING CORES Filed Nov. 9, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L55 uE SRMES SW15 \NVENTOJK.

Jan. 14, 1958 L; J. SIMS 2,819,511

MOULDING CORES Filed Nov. 9, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LESLJE JAMES INVENT R MOULDING CORES Leslie James Sims, Cardili, Wales, assignor to Ecrofnier & Partners Limited, Cardiff, Wales, a British company Application November 9, 1953, Serial No. 390,990

Claims priority, application Great Britain November 26, 1952 4 Claims. (Cl. 25-428) This invention relates to moulding cores, and more particularly to collapsible cores for use in the moulding of concrete structural members and beams. The chief object of the present invention is to provide an improved collapsible core which will be simple to produce and easy to collapse, and withdraw, when required. A further object of the present invention is to provide a moulding core which is such that a plurality of units can be connected together end-to-end and operated simultaneously from one end when required. Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a construction of moulding core which is such that a plurality of cores, when placed end-to-end, may be automatically aligned and locked one with the other.

The collapsible moulding core according to the present invention comprises two side, and top and bottom, closure members co-operating with one another to form the core together with a rotatable actuating rod extending through the middle of the core and axially movable with respect thereto, the side, top and bottom members being linked with said rod in such a manner that as the rod is moved axially they are either moved outwardly to form the erected core or collapsed to permit the core to be withdrawn.

Conveniently, the edges of the top and bottom plates or closure members are turned downwardly and upwardly respectively so as to lie over the adjacent lateral edges of the side plates which may be set back to accommodate the said overlying edges, whereby a substantially continuous unbroken core face is provided when a core is erected.

Preferably, longitudinally spaced aligned bearings are provided on the bottom member, the said axially movable rod being carried in said bearings, one or more of which is or are interiorly screw-threaded to co-operate with screw threads on the rod, whereby axial movement of the actuating rod relative to the side, top and bottom members may be effected by rotating the rod.

Means may be provided for connecting together the rods of a plurality of moulding cores placed end-to-end, thus effectively forming a single actuating rod common to all of the cores whereby the said cores may be simultaneously operated from one end.

If desired, means may be provided for mechanically linking the cores together end-to-end so that they may be withdrawn as a unit when desired.

In order that this invention may be the more clearly understood and readily carried into eliect, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example one convenient embodiment of the present invention, and in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section through the collapsible moulding core,

Figure .2 is a longitudinal horizontal section through the moulding core,

Figure 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Figure 1 with the core erected, and

Patented Jan. 14, 1958 Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 2 with the core collapsed.

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the juxtaposed ends of two cores prior to being linked together, and

Figure 6 is a. view similar to Figure 5 showing the cores aligned and locked.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the moulding core therein illustrated comprises elongated spaced top and bottom plates or closure members 10 and 11 respectively, and two side plates or closure members 12 of the desired length and shaped so as. to co-operate to form the desired hollow core. The edges of the top and bottom plates 10 and 11 are turned downwardly and up wardly respectively as at 10a and 11a so as to lie over the edges of the side plates 12, which are conveniently set back somewhat as at 12a to accommodate the said edges 10a and 11a whereby a substantially continuous unbroken core face is provided when the core is erected, see Figure 3.

Extending axially through the centre of the core is an actuating rod 13, which is conveniently made in a number of sections suitably joined together and is rotatably carried in axially spaced aligned bearings 14 upstanding from the bottom plate 11. Any suitable number of said bearings may be provided along the length of the core according to the support which it is desired to give to the rod 13 and the core plates. The rod 13 passes freely through all of the bearings 14 except one 14a, which is preferably arranged at one end of the core, and interiorly the bearing 14a is screw-threaded as at 13a so that as the rod 13 is turned it is moved axially with respect to the bearings and hence to the bottom plate 11. This relative movement between the rod 13 and the bearings 14 is used to erect and collapse the core. To this end the top plate 10, above each bearing 14, is provided with a pair of spaced guide pins 15 which extend downwardly into sliding engagement with guide sockets 16 in the bearings 14. The cooperation of the pins 15 with the sockets 15, it will be seen, ensures that movement of the top plate 1i) longitudinally with respect to the bottom plate 11 is prevented. Also secured to the underside of the top plate, just in advance of each hear ing 14, is a bracket 17 to the ends of which are pivoted downwardly extending links 18., the lower ends of which are pivoted on rods 19 carried by a collar 20 located about the rod 13 and longitudinally positioned thereon between axially spaced fixed collars 21 each riveted to the rod 13 so that whilst the actuating rod 13 and the collars 21 can turn freely, axial movement of the collar 29 relative to the rod 13 is prevented. It will be seen that as the rod 13 is screwed through the bearing 14a the inclination of the links 1% will be varied, and so the top plate 10 will be drawn towards the bottom plate 11 to collapse the core or, alternatively, will be moved away from the bottom plate 11 to erect the core.

The side plates 12, also in advance of each bearing 14, are provided with brackets 22 in which are pivoted link members or levers 23 extending towards the rod 13, the inner ends of these levers 23 being pivoted on pins 24 carried by a collar 25 on the rod 13. The collar 25 is located between fixed collars 26 on the rod 13, so that, similarly to the collar 20, it is moved axially with the rod 13 which can rotate freely therein. As the rod. 13 screws through the bearing 14a the side plates 12 will either be drawn together to collapse the core (see Figure 4) or will be moved away from one another to erect the core (see -Figure 3 The side plates 12 are also provided with guide pins 27 slidably extending into guide sockets 28 in the sides of the bearings.14, these pins 27 and sockets 28 serving, in a like manner to the pins 15 and sockets 16, to prevent longitudinal movement of the side plates relative to the top and bottom plates 10 and 11. Preferably core units with respect to one another. are the core units connected together in the linkage between the top plate 10 and the rod 13, and between the side plates 12 and the rod 13, is such that the side plates collapse somewhat quicker than the top plate to prevent the plates fouling one another. As above stated, one such set of links for controlling the side plates and one set for controlling the top and bottom plates are provided adjacent each bearing block.

Where the side plates are long in relation to their cross section, it is convenient, with a view to avoiding the use of major erecting devices such as those above described at close intervals, to keep the side plates apart by horizontal links, such as 23, only at intermediate points to ensure that the side plates shall not buckle inwards under the stresses imposed by the concrete during setting.

The collapsible moulding core so far described forms a very useful unit, but there are many occasions when it is desired to mould hollow structures of a longer length than it would be practical to make a single moulding core of the form above described. It is, therefore, preferred so to construct the moulding cores that they can be connected together end-to-end as a plurality of units to form one long continuous moulding core, the top, bottom and side plates of which can be simultaneously collapsed and erected from one end of the composite core and the units of which can all be withdrawn from one end of the finished moulded structure.

With a view to enabling a plurality of units to be linked together end-to-end and to be erected together and collapsed from one end of the composite core, it is convenient to have the rod 13 project at one end beyond the side, top and bottom plates in the form of a fiat dog 29 and to provide the other end of the rod 13 with a transverse open-ended slot 30, so that when the core units are placed together end-to-end the dog 29 will exend into the transverse slot 30 and hence the rods 13 of the units will be so linked together that they can be operated from one end to give the desired erecting or collapsing action.

With a view to enabling the plurality of core units to be withdrawn from one end of the moulded structure, means are provided for mechanically linking the core units together end-to-end. The preferred method of mechanically linking the core units together comprises an inwardly directed spigot 31, upstanding from the inside of one end of the bottom plate 11, and a projecting plate 32, having a hole 33, outstanding from the same end of the top plate 10. At the other end of the moulding core the top plate is provided with a spigot 31 and the bottom plate with a plate 32. The cores are mechanically linked together by engaging the spigots 31 with the holes 33 and, it will be seen, this is etfected by movement of one core downwardly with respect to the other. It is to be noted that, in order that this mechanical linking of the core units shall take place, it is necessary that the transverse slot 30 at one end of the rod 13 must be arranged vertically to permit the dog 29 to enter slot 30 laterally and be engaged therewith. Once the spigots 31 have been engaged with the holes 33, a slightturn of the rod 13 will take the transverse slot 30 out of its vertical position and the engagement of the dog 29 with the slot 30 will prevent vertical movement of the Thus, not only such a manner that they can all be operated from one end of the structure and can be withdrawn axially from the moulded structure when the plates have been collapsed from one end, but, in addition, the core units are accurately located with respect to one another without the possibility of any part of the edges of the core plates being proud of the edges of the contiguous plates of the next unit.

If desired, the top, bottom and side plates may be provided with a regular or irregular pattern of holes of, say, A; inch diameter to counteract the efiect of suction during the collapsing action, and also to allow the pas- 4 sage of water should the core be used in a vacuum concrete process. The cores may also be permanently sheathed in a rubber or other sheathing or may be Wrapped in a waxed paper before each moulding operation to ensure ease of withdrawal and to maintain clean COIfiS.

It will be appreciated that the cross sectional shape of the collapsible core depends entirely upon the shape of the hollow to be left in the moulded structure and consequently the present invention is not limited to the particular shape of core plates shown in the accompanying drawings.

Again, although the present invention has been more particularly described in its application to collapsible cores for moulding concrete structural members and beams, it may also be applied to the moulding of other materials such, for example, as plastics, iron, asbestos and so forth.

I claim:

1. A collapsible moulding core of the class described above, comprising, in combination: a plurality of longitudinally extending closure members adapted to provide a laterally closed space; a plurality of aligned longitudinally spaced bearing members disposed Within said space and fixed to one of said closure members; an actuating rod supported in said bearing membersso that rotation of said rod produces axial movement thereof; actuating means connecting the others of said closure members to said rod for causing inward and outward movement of said closure members in response to axial movement of the rod in one direction or the other; core coupling means comprising cooperating coupling mem bers secured to opposite end portions of at least one of said closure members whereby two aligned moulding cores can be joined end to end by engagement of the cooperably coupling members at adjacent ends of the two cores, the coupling means being such as to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the aligned cores; and separable torque transmitting means having cooperable portions disposed at opposite ends of said rod, the cooperable portions at adjacent ends of the rods of two coupled cores being adapted to engage, the torque transmitting means being so arranged as to prevent disengagement of the cores except when said rods are in a predetermined rotational position relative to the cores.

2. A collapsible moulding core of the class described, comprising in combination: a plurality of longitudinally extending closure members adapted to provide a laterally closed space; a plurality of aligned longitudinally spaced bearing members disposed Within said space and fixed to one of said closure members; an actuating rod supported in said bearing members so that rotation of said rod produces axial movement thereof; actuating means connecting the others of said closure members to said rod for causing inward and outward movement of said closure members in response to axial movement of the rod in one direction or the other; cooperable coupling means secured to opposite end portions of at least one of said closure members and comprising an inwardly projecting spigot secured to one of said end portions and a plate secured to and extending beyond the other of said end portions, said plate having an aperture for coupling engagement with the spigot of an adjacent core when a plurality of cores are arranged in end to end relationship; and separable torque transmitting means having cooperable portions disposed at opposite ends of said rod, the cooperable portions at adjacent ends of the rods of adjacent coupled cores engaging and being so arranged as to allow engaging and disengaging movement of said spigot relative to said aperture only when said rods are in a predetermined rotational position relative to said cores.

3. A collapsible moulding core of the class described, comprising, in combination: a plurality of longitudinally extending closure members adapted to provide a laterally asrasu closed space; a plurality of aligned longitudinally spaced bearing members disposed within said space and fixed to one of said closure members; an actuating rod supported in said bearing members so that rotation of said rod pro duces axial movement thereof; actuating means connecting the others of said closure members to said rod for causing inward and outward movement of said closure members in response to axial movement of the rod in one direction or the other; core coupling means comprising cooperating coupling members secured to opposite end portions of at least one of said closure members whereby two aligned moulding cores can be joined end to end by engagement of the cooperable coupling members at adjacent ends of the two cores, the coupling means being such as to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the aligned cores; and separable torque transmitting means comprising a flat dog member disposed at one end of said actuating rod, the opposite end of the rod having a transversely extending open ended slot formed therein, the dog member on one rod and the slot in the adjacent end of another rod being laterally engageablc simultaneously with the engagement of the coupling means of the two cores when the rods are in predetermined rotational positions relative to said coupling means.

4. A collapsible moulding core of the class described, comprising, in combination: a plurality of longitudinally extending closure members adapted to provide a laterally closed space; a plurality of aligned longitudinally spaced bearing members disposed within said space and fixed to one of said closure members; an actuating rod supported in said bearing members so that rotation of said rod produces axial movement thereof; actuating means connecting the others of said closure members to said rod for causing inward and outward movement of said closure members in response to axial movement of the rod in one direction or the other; cooperable coupling means secured to opposite end portions of at least one of said closure members and comprising an inwardly projecting spigot secured to one of said end portions and a plate secured to and extending beyond the other of said end portions, said plate having an aperture for coupling engagement with the spigot of an adjacent core when a plurality of cores are arranged in end to end relationship; and separable torque transmitting means comprising a flat dog member disposed at one end of said actuating rod, the opposite end of the rod having a transversely extending open ended slot formed therein, whereby when adjacent ends of the rods of adjacent cores are positioned with said dog member on one rod and the slot on the adjacent end of the other rod oriented in the direction in which said spigot member projects, said dog member can be inserted laterally into said slot to effect engagement of the torque transmitting means simultaneously with the coupling engagement between said spigot member and said plate aperture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 668,474 Adams Feb. 19, 1901 914,032 Engelin Mar. 2, 1909 1,002,119 Bennett et al Aug. 29, 1911 1,113,753 Chambers Oct. 13, 1914 1,144,862 Peoples et a1. June 29, 1915 1,312,157 Buente Aug. 5, 1919 1,540,185 Richards June 2, 1925 1,607,384 Ball Nov. 16, 1926 1,631,838 Terry June 7, 1927 2,075,591 Schuster Mar. 30, 1937 2,138,693 Corwin Nov. 29, 1938 

